This is an update to a post earlier today marked "Am I asking too much?"

Purchased two new rear tires for my 996 and it turns out I have a slow leak in the driver rear rim. When the new tire/rim is submerged in water, you can see where the air is leaking. It is within a few centimeters of the valve stem toward the inside. When submerged, you can see a hairline crack maybe a centimeter or two and in the middle of the hairline crack you can see the leak. However, once out of the water, it is pretty much invisible to the human eye. No sign of any kind of dent, ding, damage, scrape, etc. I could only visually see this while pressurized and under water. Question: It definitely appears to be a manufacture defect without a doubt. Do the structure of the rims have a lifetime warranty? The rim/part # is
996 362 140 03

Thanks!!!

 

First, I doubt any oem rim from the 996 era is still under any factory warranty. That'd be my guess but a simple phone call should get you the answers.

Secondly, how did this rim developing a hairline crack happen? The rim was fine for years and held air all that time before you took it to Discount Tire and now your have a hairline crack? Sounds fishy to me.

Unfortunately, I think you're gonna be shoveling it up stream on this one.

Good luck!

 

If these are the rims on the car in your avatar, I have seen quite a few of them have a crack as you mention. Tire mounting, dis mounting could catalyze the issue. I had the issue happen on my own car, fired up the Tig welder and took care of it! I'd never recommend that for anyone else, though.

 

A similar thing happened to me with an aftermarket aluminum transfer-case for a Jeep. After it was installed and filled with oil it started leaking from the middle of the side. The manufacturer said to just hit it with the TIG.

I doubt any shop would do that for you, but maybe someone local would have a welder.

 

I love my toys and resources in times of need :-)
Its always fun to re-balance the wheel after welding it, the key is to fuse as much as possible and only add minimal filler rod.

 

JB weld and call it a day.

 

If its hairline some green ":wicking" lactate might just do the job, too. I've repaired ATV alloy rims with it before.